Paul W. Wirtz, former deputy director of facilities engineering at Aberdeen Proving Ground and longtime comptroller and trustee of the Baltimore Streetcar Museum, died Nov. 4 from multiple organ failure at Greater Baltimore Medical Center. The former Roland Park resident was 91. "Paul was a very erudite guy and very learned. He was a world traveler until he became ill," said Andrew S. Blumberg, a member for many years of the Baltimore Streetcar Museum, where he is director of public relations.

On Sunday, December 25, 2005, EDWARD G. WIRTZ, age 69 of Phoenix, MD, beloved husband of Barbara G. Wirtz; devoted father of Donna L. Storke and her husband Robert, John G. Wirtz and his wife Wendy, and R. Christine Wirtz and her husband Nazim; brother of Virginia Edwards, Ruth Wirtz, Doris Jefferies and James Wirtz grandfather of Jonathan, Fatima, Benjamin, April and Macy. Friends may call at the family owned Peaceful Alternatives Funeral and Cremation Center, P.A., 2325 York Road, Timonium on Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 P.M. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, December 29 at the Hereford Assembly of God Church, 1211 Mt. Carmel Road, Parkton, beginning at 11 A.M. Interment to follow in the Jessops Cemetery.

Tomorrow, check out the music and comedy of Reverend Billy C. Wirtz. His performance combines satirical, irreverent humor with blues- and gospel-inspired piano playing. No subject is taboo for this accomplished musicologist. Wirtz performs at 7:30 p.m. at Rams Head Tavern, 33 West St., Annapolis. Tickets are $20. Call 410-268-4545 or go to ramshead tavern.com.

Tomorrow, check out the music and comedy of Reverend Billy C. Wirtz. His performance combines satirical, irreverent humor with blues- and gospel-inspired piano playing. No subject is taboo for this accomplished musicologist. Wirtz performs at 7:30 p.m. at Rams Head Tavern, 33 West St., Annapolis. Tickets are $20. Call 410-268-4545 or go to ramshead tavern.com.

A Baltimore County jury has found two companies negligent in the 1992 death of Martin Wirtz, a mechanic who climbed inside a tank truck to save a friend and died inhaling fumes from chemical waste.After nearly two hours of deliberation Thursday, the jury ordered the companies -- Farmington Freight Inc. and Cargill Inc. -- to pay Wirtz's estate $146,249 for medical and funeral bills and for pain and suffering and mental anguish.The suit was filed by Wirtz's sister, Linda Wirtz of Florida, on behalf of his estate.

Johns Hopkins University chemical engineer Dr. Denis Wirtz has developed a sort of molecular towing service.Wirtz has devised a way to hitch tiny iron-oxide beads to individual DNA molecules. Then, using a computer keyboard or joystick, he can alter magnetic fields around the molecules to tow the beads and their DNA wherever he wants -- in three dimensions, and all by remote control.Dyed so that they fluoresce with a blue glow, the threadlike DNA strands can be seen on a video screen, drifting and turning obediently in ghostly formation as they move through a dark sea of nonbeaded DNA."

Violet Cosgrove was getting ready to go to a party last May when country music lyrics began running through her head. Within 10 minutes, the 64-year-old Pasadena resident had written her first song, "Don't Wait Until Tomorrow."Cosgrove said she wrote down the words of the song on a little piece of paper and took it to the party to show her friend Eleanor Wirtz. Wirtz suggested another friend, George Smalley, could put the lyrics to music.Don't wait to say, "I love you."Don't wait to say, "I care."

On a February day in 1992, Martin Wirtz died after inhaling toxic fumes while trying to save his friend, Milton "Mickey" White III, who collapsed inside a tank truck after emptying it of chemical waste.Five years later, Wirtz's sister is facing White in Baltimore County Circuit Court, suing his company on behalf of her brother's estate.The suit by Linda Wirtz claims Farmington Freight, which White owns, was negligent in collecting, transporting and disposing of the chemicals.It also names Cargill Inc., a molasses maker that supplied the nearly 3,000 gallons of waste the day of the accident.

NOW OR NEVER Ben Jelen, Maverick Records' much-hyped "breakout artist of 2004," plays Fletcher's Saturday. Jelen, who split with Maverick and hashed out new material with producer Linda Perry (Gwen Stefani, Pink), is now on a small East Coast acoustic tour. Singer / songwriter Ben Jelen plays Fletcher's at 8 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $12. Fletcher's is at 701 S. Bond St. Call 410-558-1889 or visit www.fletchersbar.com. COMING UP Rev. Billy C. Wirtz, the polar opposite of politically correct, brings his piano boogies and social satire to the Rams Head Tavern Wednesday.

On Sunday, December 25, 2005, EDWARD G. WIRTZ, age 69 of Phoenix, MD, beloved husband of Barbara G. Wirtz; devoted father of Donna L. Storke and her husband Robert, John G. Wirtz and his wife Wendy, and R. Christine Wirtz and her husband Nazim; brother of Virginia Edwards, Ruth Wirtz, Doris Jefferies and James Wirtz grandfather of Jonathan, Fatima, Benjamin, April and Macy. Friends may call at the family owned Peaceful Alternatives Funeral and Cremation Center, P.A., 2325 York Road, Timonium on Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 P.M. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, December 29 at the Hereford Assembly of God Church, 1211 Mt. Carmel Road, Parkton, beginning at 11 A.M. Interment to follow in the Jessops Cemetery.

The Johns Hopkins University is starting a graduate program aimed at training a new breed of scientist and engineer - the nanotechnologist. The school has won a $1 million grant to design a program and begin training doctoral students in nanomedicine, an emerging field that treats diseases on a molecular level. The discipline shows promise in fighting various cancers and genetic illnesses. The effort is a response to the growing need for doctors, chemists and engineers who can work in the physical sciences with nanoscale devices, said Denis Wirtz, the Hopkins professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering who will direct the program.

NOW OR NEVER Ben Jelen, Maverick Records' much-hyped "breakout artist of 2004," plays Fletcher's Saturday. Jelen, who split with Maverick and hashed out new material with producer Linda Perry (Gwen Stefani, Pink), is now on a small East Coast acoustic tour. Singer / songwriter Ben Jelen plays Fletcher's at 8 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $12. Fletcher's is at 701 S. Bond St. Call 410-558-1889 or visit www.fletchersbar.com. COMING UP Rev. Billy C. Wirtz, the polar opposite of politically correct, brings his piano boogies and social satire to the Rams Head Tavern Wednesday.

A Baltimore County jury has found two companies negligent in the 1992 death of Martin Wirtz, a mechanic who climbed inside a tank truck to save a friend and died inhaling fumes from chemical waste.After nearly two hours of deliberation Thursday, the jury ordered the companies -- Farmington Freight Inc. and Cargill Inc. -- to pay Wirtz's estate $146,249 for medical and funeral bills and for pain and suffering and mental anguish.The suit was filed by Wirtz's sister, Linda Wirtz of Florida, on behalf of his estate.

On a February day in 1992, Martin Wirtz died after inhaling toxic fumes while trying to save his friend, Milton "Mickey" White III, who collapsed inside a tank truck after emptying it of chemical waste.Five years later, Wirtz's sister is facing White in Baltimore County Circuit Court, suing his company on behalf of her brother's estate.The suit by Linda Wirtz claims Farmington Freight, which White owns, was negligent in collecting, transporting and disposing of the chemicals.It also names Cargill Inc., a molasses maker that supplied the nearly 3,000 gallons of waste the day of the accident.

The Johns Hopkins University is starting a graduate program aimed at training a new breed of scientist and engineer - the nanotechnologist. The school has won a $1 million grant to design a program and begin training doctoral students in nanomedicine, an emerging field that treats diseases on a molecular level. The discipline shows promise in fighting various cancers and genetic illnesses. The effort is a response to the growing need for doctors, chemists and engineers who can work in the physical sciences with nanoscale devices, said Denis Wirtz, the Hopkins professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering who will direct the program.

PHILADELPHIA -- Kentucky needed something to gets its second wind, to hold off an oncoming express train in ugly red uniforms. The Wildcats had watched their early 21-point lead evaporate, and Massachusetts was charging hard, trailing by two with 5 1/2 minutes left.That's when Lennie Wirtz, who was officiating basketball games before John Calipari was born, stepped in and stopped the Minutemen cold. He called a controversial technical against the Massachusetts coach, and Kentucky was able to breathe again.

Johns Hopkins University chemical engineer Dr. Denis Wirtz has developed a sort of molecular towing service.Wirtz has devised a way to hitch tiny iron-oxide beads to individual DNA molecules. Then, using a computer keyboard or joystick, he can alter magnetic fields around the molecules to tow the beads and their DNA wherever he wants -- in three dimensions, and all by remote control.Dyed so that they fluoresce with a blue glow, the threadlike DNA strands can be seen on a video screen, drifting and turning obediently in ghostly formation as they move through a dark sea of nonbeaded DNA."

By Keith Gave and Keith Gave,Knight-Ridder News Service | December 30, 1992

Year of the woman, the strike, the tradeThe year of our Lord Stanley 1992 will stand as the most profound season of change since skaters began competing for what used to be a silver bowl 100 years ago.Twelve months that forever changed the game included a first-ever strike by players; changes in leadership; expansion and more expansion; a glut of European imports; new rules that threatened to make fighting extinct; and the shattering of the gender barrier...